efused to purchase his forbearance. His friends
after some months subscribed Rs. 80 and the Bhat discontinued his
execrations, but said it was too late, as his curses had taken effect;
and the superstitious Hindus ascribe the ruin of the banker, which
took place some years afterwards, to this unfortunate event." The
loquacity and importunity of the Bhats are shown in the saying,
'Four Bhats make a crowd'; and their insincerity in the proverb
quoted by Mr. Crooke, "The bard, the innkeeper and the harlot have
no heart; they are polite when customers arrive, but neglect those
leaving (after they have paid)" [297] The Bhat women are as bold,
voluble and ready in retort as the men. When a Bhat woman passes a
male caste-fellow on the road, it is the latter who raises a piece
of cloth to his face till the woman is out of sight. [298]

8. The Jasondhis.

Some of the lower classes of Bhats have become religious mendicants
and musicians, and perform ceremonial functions. Thus the Jasondhis,
who are considered a class of Bhats, take their name from the _jas_
or hymns sung in praise of Devi. They are divided into various
sections, as the Nakib or flag-bearers in a procession, the Nazir or
ushers who introduced visitors to the Raja, the Nagaria or players on
kettle-drums, the Karaola who pour sesamum oil on their clothes and
beg, and the Panda, who serve as priests of Devi, and beg carrying
an image of the goddess in their hands. There is also a section of
Muhammadan Bhats who serve as bards and genealogists for Muhammadan
castes. Some Bhats, having the rare and needful qualification of
literacy so that they can read the old Sanskrit medical works, have,
like a number of Brahmans, taken to the practice of medicine and are
known as Kaviraj.

9. The Charans as carriers.

As already stated, the persons of the Charans in the capacity of bard
and herald were sacred, and they travelled from court to court without
fear of molestation from robbers or enemies. It seems likely that the
Charans may have united the breeding of cattle to their calling of
bard; but in any case the advantage derived from their sanctity was so
important that they gradually became the chief carriers and traders of
Rajputana and the adjoining tracts. They further, in virtue of their
holy character, enjoyed a partial exemption from the perpetual and
harassing imposts levied by every petty State on produce entering its
territory; and the combination of